Is this destiny?

~ Austin, Morgan\'s family villa ~

Harriet is in the basement. She is locked in there since that disastrous dinner with Lukas White. Harriet knows why she is back here, but how she arrived here… she does not know.

Harriet remembers a maid bringing in her room a long red body-hugging dress with a high slit on the side. "Madam said that you should be ready by 6 PM."

Harriet obediently put it on and sighed at the V-neck opening which is too low for her taste.

Before Harriet left the house, both of her parents made sure to bring out the point how the goal of that dinner is to make Lukas like her.

They sent her to the restaurant with a driver and two bodyguards. Now that she thinks of it, she is confident that those men were not there to protect her, but to make sure that she does not escape.

When she arrived at the restaurant, Lukas was there already. The first thing she noticed is the private room, and him… overweight, acne infested face, hair sleeked back with too much hair wax, but the thing that made her cringe internally was the lecherous way he looked at her.

"So, you are Harriet…", his deep voice filled the room while he ogled at her like he can see through the dress.

"Nice to meet you." She forced a smile while thinking how this will be a long evening.

Well, she was wrong. It was not a long evening.

They ordered the food and all the bodyguards retreated without a word, to give them privacy probably. Her bodyguards included.

Lukas was rambling about his unexpected but well deserved luck. "After such a long time, my whole family is getting a chance to see the world from the top…"

It didn\'t make much sense to Harriet. Can this man make a coherent sentence? Why is he talking like they were poor and suffering and suddenly they hit a jackpot? They are Whites. A well-to-do family. If they had such hardships before, how could he and his sister attend those expensive private schools?

Harriet does not know Lukas personally, but everyone talks about Whites, and she knows his background.

The appetizers were on the table when Lukas\' hand landed on her thigh. So much for her thought that this will be a simple introductory dinner.

He caressed her cheek and down her neck. "Your skin is the best so far. Other girls are not taking such a good care of themselves…", she can still hear him talking under his breath while inching closer to her.

Harriet told herself that she can take it.

If all this happened three months back, she would probably go through it. She never gave much thought about physical contact and what it means. But since she met Benjamin, she experienced pleasures that can happen when both parties involved are willing. Benjamin\'s touch made her feel the rush that can arise only when someone cherishes you. And Lukas is definitely not the cherishing type.

When she felt his breath on her face, she realized that this is something she can\'t go through.

Harriet is not sure how, it all happened so quickly. Lukas pounced on her, and she moved… and her knee landed between his legs.

He pushed her away violently and she landed on the floor.

Lukas screamed how she is ungrateful…"I gave you this opportunity, and what did you do?"… and the last image is him kicking her. And the pain stopped.

She probably passed out because the next thing she remembers is her waking up in this basement.

And even though few days passed, her body is still aching… from Lukas\' kicks probably. Or did her parents hit her after she was brought home? Probably not… they use their bodyguards for any physical punishments which are more than a slap.

Harriet sighed. She is still wearing that red dress.

She looked outside through the narrow window close to the ceiling. It\'s daytime. And she is back in the basement.

Now what? Will she give up and wither away here, or allow her parents to use her, or… she needs a plan. She does not want either of those two.

Earlier, it was different. She didn\'t know better, but now she does. Her time with Benjamin showed her that there is such a thing as enjoying your life. She needs to cling onto that feeling and come up with a way out of this situation.

\'Think, Harriet, think!\', she forced herself to stay present and not succumb to the depression.

What does she know? There must be some power change in the White family, and her parents are going with the flow. What are the chances that a capable person like Jeff would lose to someone like Lukas? No, there is no way that is happening. She does not like Jeffrey, in fact, she is afraid of him. But she can\'t deny that he made a name for himself. As for Lukas, other than being Jeffrey\'s cousin who likes to party… there is nothing much. So how can Lukas be considered as the next in power? And her father to support that? … Suddenly, the realization hit her: Yes! It must be Lukas\' father!

She heard rumors that Jeffrey\'s uncle was supposed to be the head of the family, but Jeffrey\'s father got the position and it left that man bitter. So, if uncle is the one grabbing the power, it will explain everything. How can she use this information?

She needs to figure out several things. First is to get out of the basement. Second is to get out of the house. Third is to get outside of her parents\' control.

…

Harriet is not sure how much time passed before she asked the maid who brought her food if she can speak to her parents because she wants to apologize.

Two days later, the maid escorted Harriet to the living room where her parents were seated. They looked at her with disdain.

Harried swallowed her pride and ignored coldness from her parents… and fell on her knees.

"Please, forgive me. I acted rashly and without thinking. Can you give me another chance?"

"Why would we?", her mother sneered.

"I learned my lesson. And I don\'t want to go back to the basement. I want to live luxuriously and wear good dresses and attend parties. Please, just give me another chance to prove myself."

"THAT was another chance and you blew it!", Mr. Morgan squeezed through his teeth.

Harriet looked at her father and then at mother with eyes full of tears. "Can\'t you give me another one? Please? I had time to think and I know what to do. I will behave and fulfil your expectations. I had years of training and I will not fail. I will make Lukas fall head over heels for me, and when I become the next Madam White you will be proud of me."

Her parents exchanged glances. Harriet could see the flicker in their eyes when she said \'the next Madam White\'.

"Take her to her room.", her father ordered the maid who was standing behind.

Harried exhaled in relief. She is out of the basement. Step one is completed.

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